Bute stops Magee in ten to retain IBF Super Middle crown
Lucian Bute made the seventh defense of the IBF Super Middleweight crown with a body punch assault tenth round stoppage over gritty Brian Magee in front of over 13, 000 rabid fans at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.
Bute came out and over the first few rounds was very effective with the right hook but Magee was competitive as he featured some body work. Magee was doing well at the beginning of rounds but Bute would box well enough to take most of the first five frames. In round six, Bute landed a vicious right hook to the that sent Magee down to a knee. Magee got up but Bute was dominant the rest of the round as he landed some more right hooks and straight lefts.
Just seconds after being sent to the canvas via a low blow, Magee was dropped with another right hook to the body in round seven. Replays later showed that the low blow was indeed a solid and legal punch. Magee came out in round eight looking like a tired fighter from the effects of the body work.
Magee would not go away as he was tough as nails in taking some shots and not giving up in an effort to pull off the big upset.
In round ten, Bute landed yet another crushing uppercut but this time landing flush on the chin that sent Magee to his knees and referee Pete Patgorski waved off the bout immediately at 2:04 of round ten.
Bute, 167 1/2 lbs of Montreal is now 28-0 with twenty-three knockouts. Magee, 167 3/4 lbs of Northern Island is now 34-4-1.
This bout could be setting up a summer showdown between Bute and former world champion Mikkel Kessler.
credit: Marc Abrams -of GFL
